A TRIP on the famous East Lancashire Railway means that Bury's growing friendship with China is going full steam ahead.

A ten-strong delegation from Datong arrives on Saturday for a five-day stay in the borough.

Datong, in North East China, is opening its own historic steam railway to its World Heritage site at the Yungang Grottoes.

It was the rail link that first brought representatives to Bury several years ago, when they came to learn from the ELR. Contacts grew and led to last summer's visit by a Bury delegation to Datong. The delegation will spend Sunday travelling on the ELR, and on Monday they will visit St Monica's RC High School in Prestwich. The school will soon be taking student teachers from Yanbei College for teaching practice and offering ten-week taster courses in Chinese.

The party will then meet the Mayor of Bury, Councillor John Smith, at a civic reception in Bury Town Hall. At the dinner, the mayor and the executive vice mayor of Datong will sign a further agreement, moving towards Friendship City status. Next Tuesday, the delegation will meet local businesses and enjoy an evening reception with Bolton Bury Chamber of Commerce, while Wednesday sees visits to Bury College, Mill Gate and the art gallery.